tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post2423305616368236768..comments2017-12-13T20:47:32.016-05:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: (GULF OF TARANTO'S LOCALE) FRIDAY, Jan. 18, 2008 - Trip PayneRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12340679461824023132008-12-10T12:38:00.000-05:002008-12-10T12:38:00.000-05:00Probably because "soigné" does literally mean care...Probably because "soigné" does literally mean cared-for. "A well cared-for appearance," in this case, I suppose.Charlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01390300490315841794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38654326051380905842008-05-05T13:43:00.000-04:002008-05-05T13:43:00.000-04:00Probably no one will read this since so much time ...Probably no one will read this since so much time has passed, but I'll put in my two cents anyway. I stumbled upon this page while searching for something else and absolutely loved the essay linking crossword puzzles to humanity. It just struck a chord in me as one of those truths I can never articulate but recognize when someone else does. It just made me go, "Oh, of COURSE!" Reading through the comments, I'm afraid I'm outclassed here. I get a free copy of the Washington Post Express at the subway station and do the crossword on my way to work in the mornings. On a good day, I can get about half of it. So reading everyone's comments about how the NYT puzzle is "easy" made me laugh. A lot of this material is from before my time, although the pop culture clues are easier (well, I'm 18!) But the HAMAN clue made my day. I'm about to graduate from a Jewish day school, and I would have known that clue in, oh, first grade or so. Haman is a household name in the Orthodox Jewish community (actually, probably the general Jewish community as well.) Anyway, thanks for an intelligent and entertaining webpage.Gilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8233231367591272042008-03-03T09:44:00.000-05:002008-03-03T09:44:00.000-05:00Another from the future. If any happen to stumble...Another from the future. If any happen to stumble pack in the past can you explain 52A to me. Owl in response to brood, chicken, parliament rings to bells. Just brings to mind little men wearing wigs with chickens roosting on top trying to solve the problems of the day. Thanks.Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01797677611128045881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68311882542882639942008-02-29T19:31:00.000-05:002008-02-29T19:31:00.000-05:00From the future (or past). Tough puzzle for me. R...From the future (or past). Tough puzzle for me.<BR/><BR/> Rex, nice (and very subtle) Simpsons reference in the Neruda explanation by the way :-) NERUDA was one of the few clues that I got, mainly due to the Simpsons.impjbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311105934112373190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21600389601144197872008-01-24T20:19:00.000-05:002008-01-24T20:19:00.000-05:00Rex,I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this to you...Rex,<BR/><BR/>I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this to you yet, so let me fill you in -- Trip was on the writing team of the MIT Mystery Hunt this year, and wrote this crossword specifically for use as part of a puzzle in the Hunt. Three of the answers ("do it again", "start with", "timeshare") together spell out an instruction in one of the Hunt puzzles.<BR/><BR/>Our team, and I'm sure many others, used your solution to the crossword in solving the Hunt puzzle, rather than solving it ourselves! :-)Glenn Willennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-63617491135257927522008-01-22T15:13:00.000-05:002008-01-22T15:13:00.000-05:00Thank you for vindicating me, RadioGuy. I put in D...Thank you for vindicating me, RadioGuy. I put in DirtyWork and moved on. A couple of downs went my way and then...nothing.<BR/><BR/>Rex, loved the Dolby (a tape deck button) reference.<BR/><BR/>Eric from MadisonErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281291974062721183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-25879695338985486292008-01-19T17:01:00.000-05:002008-01-19T17:01:00.000-05:00Probably nobody will read this but...@ Rikki- I kn...Probably nobody will read this but...<BR/><BR/>@ Rikki- I know you are a Steely Dan fan, I think you mentioned it the last time I mentioned that I was! Also, at that time I refrained from telling you not to lose that number, figuring you've heard it a million times already (especially since your name is spelled in the exact same way).<BR/><BR/>@ Isabella- You wouldn't believe how much pop culture you can get out of just reading any newspaper's headlines! (Especially NYT.)doc Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85503370632001530382008-01-19T08:34:00.000-05:002008-01-19T08:34:00.000-05:00"...90+% of pop culture is crap, but so is 90+% of..."...90+% of pop culture is crap, but so is 90+% of everything."--Rex<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm. I'll have to remember that when I listen to Mozart or read Shakespeare. ;-)<BR/><BR/>"All generalizations are etc., etc..."<BR/><BR/>I'm late to the party here, since I tried to solve this puzzle late into the night. It was difficult for me and I had to look up some of the answers.<BR/><BR/>The problem with keeping up with pop culture is that you have to waste your time immersed in it in order to know what's what in that world--and it is a roiling soup of mediocrity.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.Isabella di Pestonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82186526941782255882008-01-19T03:11:00.000-05:002008-01-19T03:11:00.000-05:00That probably was the name of the swish girl; can ...That probably was the name of the swish girl; can you come up with the dirt-poor, religiously-constricted, striving son's name?Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-13008486205237976092008-01-19T03:00:00.000-05:002008-01-19T03:00:00.000-05:00Rikki.Are we reeling in the years? (I just recentl...Rikki.<BR/><BR/>Are we reeling in the years? <BR/><BR/>(I just recently turned 50.)<BR/><BR/>And I think the Chargers might prevail on Sunday. That's my hope anyway, as is many of your compatriots in your new domain.<BR/><BR/>FFFergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84797202656840281742008-01-19T02:36:00.000-05:002008-01-19T02:36:00.000-05:00Fergus... Sondra Finchley?Great puzzle and comment...Fergus... Sondra Finchley?<BR/><BR/>Great puzzle and commentary today. I vote Bamboo Harvester for the star recognition. These are the kinds of things we learn from puzzling. Steely Dan is my favorite band ever, too, Doc J. How many times do you think I've been told not to lose that number? Leon...too funny. <BR/><BR/>Rex... loved your reflective comments. God bless the messiness indeed. <BR/><BR/>Thought the puzzle was fresh and fun in both clueing and fill. Tripped (no pun) up for a moment by filled treat. A treat to me is a sweet, and though pierogi can be fruit-filled, I've only made savory ones filled with meat or vegetables. But either way they are certainly a treat.<BR/><BR/>And thanks to Trip and Will for 18A because a football clue affords me the opportunity to say GO PATRIOTS!!! *yells & stamps feet* If they win, pierogi for everyone!Rikkinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-15547247791484088972008-01-19T01:27:00.000-05:002008-01-19T01:27:00.000-05:00Most irrelevant comment yet.Aside -- Scruffy Santa...Most irrelevant comment yet.<BR/><BR/>Aside -- Scruffy Santa Cruz guy boldly talking up to sophisticated Chicago girl. Makes me think of Dreiser's "American Tragedy" and not so much the girl who was left in the lake, but the fabulous aspiring daughter of ....Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32831513432981150682008-01-19T00:20:00.000-05:002008-01-19T00:20:00.000-05:00Actually, if you Google sudoku blog, you get over ...Actually, if you Google <I>sudoku blog</I>, you get over a million and a half hits, about three times the number you get for <I>crossword blog</I>. Of course, they're crap, and some have been abandoned, and when you see 52 comments, they're all spam comments spewing links.<BR/><BR/>Crossword geeks rock.Orangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36317160704370315852008-01-18T22:06:00.000-05:002008-01-18T22:06:00.000-05:00I think that the rules are different for non-human...I think that the rules are different for non-human stars such as Mr. Ed, Lassie, Benji, or even Herbie the Love Bug. I think you could say that, "Herbie the Love Bug starred in such-and-such movies."<BR/><BR/>Also, if Bamboo Harvester had ever appeared in anything else, I'd guess he'd probably be billed and represented to the media as "Mr. Ed." When Benji starred in <I>Oh Heavenly Dog</I>, he was billed as "Benji," not as "dog that also played Benji in the Benji movies". So if you think of it that way, Mr. Ed is as much a stage name as a character name.Richard Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833387144768089695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24215776306173557442008-01-18T21:24:00.000-05:002008-01-18T21:24:00.000-05:00anon 6:47,As it has been said before and as it wil...anon 6:47,<BR/><BR/>As it has been said before and as it will be said again, NERUDA/NARD was a gimme to me.<BR/><BR/>We all have our own wheelhouse.<BR/><BR/>and <B>leon</B>,<BR/><BR/>You forgot that wonderful 1, 7, 5 crossing in the middle. I thought at first that it was unfair but then I got it.ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2326286824948511952008-01-18T21:10:00.000-05:002008-01-18T21:10:00.000-05:00Below are commentaries from a Sudoku blog:249!!!!!...Below are commentaries from a Sudoku blog:<BR/><BR/>2<BR/><BR/>4<BR/><BR/>9!!!!!Leonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64328855287367401462008-01-18T21:08:00.000-05:002008-01-18T21:08:00.000-05:00@jae, I'm sorry to have missed that. I read everyt...@jae, I'm sorry to have missed that. I read everything, but sometimes not every thing does register; even an Orange comment, which I would otherwise flag.Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88377483370208610312008-01-18T21:07:00.000-05:002008-01-18T21:07:00.000-05:00I didn't even notice that this puzzle was heavy on...I didn't even notice that this puzzle was heavy on pop culture. And I'm not young. But two astrology clues was two too many for me.<BR/><BR/>average Friday difficulty for me -- a couple of letters wrong and considerable thinking.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89443969145014311542008-01-18T20:22:00.000-05:002008-01-18T20:22:00.000-05:00@fergus -- Orange commented near the top of the st...@fergus -- Orange commented near the top of the stack that Mr. Ed's true name is Bamboo Harvester which on occasion shows up in crosswords.<BR/><BR/>The Beach Boys also have a song called "Do It Again" which threw me off momentarily. I thought the Steely Dan song had Back Jack somewhere in the title? I guess in '72 I was too busy protesting to read labels and liner notes.jaenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-12287658342092592532008-01-18T19:08:00.000-05:002008-01-18T19:08:00.000-05:00Two of Steely Dan's singles off their 1972 debut "...Two of Steely Dan's singles off their 1972 debut "Can't Buy A Thrill" are both long enough to fit into today's crossword (without other fill): "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work." Both have the D and T in the same place, which tripped me up for a moment (since I got "Nat" easily).<BR/><BR/>The Washington Nationals are moving into a new ballpark this spring, so the RFK Stadium reference will soon be obsolete.radioguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11455959220788571407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33892934311423681682008-01-18T18:47:00.000-05:002008-01-18T18:47:00.000-05:00I thought the NERUDA/NARD crossing was unfair. Th...I thought the NERUDA/NARD crossing was unfair. The only blemish on this otherwise fun puzzle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40874476826459492562008-01-18T18:15:00.000-05:002008-01-18T18:15:00.000-05:00@ Johnson: NAT is short for Nationals- the Washing...@ Johnson: NAT is short for Nationals- the Washington Nationals, one of the newer teams in the league.doc Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38030394126275873902008-01-18T18:06:00.000-05:002008-01-18T18:06:00.000-05:00Maybe Mister Ed was the horse's given name? It's ...Maybe Mister Ed was the horse's given name? It's fun sometimes to have a little flutter on the ponies, if only for the consideration of those listed on the card. I know that their names are often derivative from sire through mare, but those do seem to occupy a distinct, and yet enigmatic set or range of equine suitability. I wonder if there are are any clear standards?Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39453395063826167112008-01-18T17:59:00.000-05:002008-01-18T17:59:00.000-05:00So many things I didn't know:CEYNEDSNARDSOIGNEGENI...So many things I didn't know:<BR/>CEY<BR/>NEDS<BR/>NARD<BR/>SOIGNE<BR/>GENIE<BR/>PHIL Keoghan<BR/>ETA Carinae<BR/><BR/>Some things I learned on this blog:<BR/>OREAD<BR/>OMARR<BR/><BR/>And what (who) is a NAT?<BR/><BR/>Somehow it all just came together...and less than 4xOrange!<BR/><BR/>Have a great weekend.johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-48502579038877950532008-01-18T17:41:00.000-05:002008-01-18T17:41:00.000-05:00I don't see how Mr. Ed could have been the star. ...I don't see how Mr. Ed could have been the star. Do you say, "Rachel Green was the star of Friends"? Or do you say "Jennifer Aniston was the star of Friends"? I only use that example because my brain is stuck, but it will serve.<BR/><BR/>Unless there are special rules for animals, it's the actor, not the character, who stars. Right?green mantisnoreply@blogger.com